Washington elk season 2026-27 Open
Elk season in Washington is open now, last season closes Jan 20, 2027.
Dates only. Bag limits, legal methods, licences and zone boundaries: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Read today.
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Archery, antlered | 101, 105, 108, 117, 204 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery | 121, 124, 127, 373d, 382*, 388 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | 163 | Dec 9, 2026 to Jan 20, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 25 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | 178 | Nov 20, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 6 days |
| Late Archery | 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 379d, 381 Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Open open, closes tomorrow |
| Late Archery, antlered | 249, 251, 336, 342, 346, 352, 364, Elk Area 3681 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | 334, 335 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlered | 407, 448, 506, 530, 603, 612, 615, 638 (except for Elk Area 6064), 648 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery | 454, 564*d, 666, Elk Area 6014 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | Elk Area 4601*, 503, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 663, 667, 672, 681, and 699d . Master hunters only in Elk Area 6064 portion of GMU 63 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | Master Hunters Only: 127 through 142 | Dec 9, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 25 days |
| Late Archery, antlerless | Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 20, 2027 | Open open, closes in 67 days |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 101 through 121, 117d, 204, 247 | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader | 124 through 142, 245, 250, 272, 278, 284, 290, 379d | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 145, 149, 154, 162, 163, 166, 172, 175, 178, 181, 249, 336 through 342, 352 through 368 | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 251, 328, 329, 334, 335, Elk Area 2051 | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlered | 407, 448, 460, 466, 506a, 510, 513, 516, 520, 524, (except Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 550, 554, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578d, 602, 603, 607, 612, 615, 624 (except Elk A | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader | 454, 564*d, 666, 684d | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Early Muzzleloader, antlerless | 501, 503, 504, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antler- less), Elk Area 6014, 654, 663, 667, Elk Area 4601 | Oct 3, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Late Muzzleloader | 130 through 142* | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader | 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Open open, closes tomorrow |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 407 | Dec 16, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 32 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 448, 601, 618, 651, 658 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader | 454, 564*d, 666, 684d, Elk Area 6014 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlered | 568, 574, 578d | Nov 25, 2026 to Nov 30, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlerless | Elk Area 4601*, 501, 503, 504, 505, 652 (except Elk Area 6013 closed to antlerless), 667 | Nov 25, 2026 to Dec 8, 2026 | Opens soon opens in 11 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlerless | Master Hunters Only: 127, through 142. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Dec 9, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 25 days |
| Late Muzzleloader, antlerless | Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 20, 2027 | Open open, closes in 67 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Eastern Washington: 101, 105, 108, 111, 113, 117d, 121, 204 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Modern Firearm | Eastern Washington: 124 through 142, 372*, 382*, 388 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Eastern Washington: 145, 149d, 154, 162 through 186, 249, 336 through 368 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Modern Firearm | Eastern Washington: 203, 209 through 248, 250, 254 through 272, 278d, 284, 290, 373d, 379d, 381 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | Open open, closes tomorrow |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Eastern Washington: 251, 328, 329, 334, 335 | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 8, 2026 | Closed closed |
| Modern Firearm, antlerless | Eastern Washington: Master Hunters Only: 127 through 142 | Dec 9, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Upcoming opens in 25 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlerless segment 2 | Eastern Washington: Master Hunters Only: 334 and 371. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink in August. | Jan 1, 2027 to Jan 31, 2027 | Upcoming opens in 48 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlerless | Eastern Washington: Master Hunters Only: Elk Areas 3911 and 3912. Must wear hunter orange and/or fuorescent hunter pink. | Aug 1, 2026 to Jan 20, 2027 | Open open, closes in 67 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Western Washington: 407, 460, 466, 448, 503, 505, 506a, 510 through 520, 524, (except Elk Area 5066), 530ad, 550, 560, 568, 572, 574, 578d, 601 through 618, 624 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 18, 2026 | Open open, closes in 4 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlered | Western Washington: 454 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 18, 2026 | Open open, closes in 4 days |
| Modern Firearm, antlerless | Western Washington: 501, 504, 663, Elk Areas 4601* and 6014 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 18, 2026 | Open open, closes in 4 days |
| Modern Firearm | Western Washington: 564*d, 666 | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 18, 2026 | Open open, closes in 4 days |
Elk hunting in Washington runs from Aug 1, 2026 (Late Archery, antlerless) to Jan 31, 2027 (Modern Firearm, antlerless) in the 2026-27 season, and is open now, last season closes Jan 20, 2027.
Dates differ by zone or unit (101 through 121, 117d, 204, 247, 101, 105, 108, 117, 204, 121, 124, 127, 373d, 382*, 388 and 124 through 142, 245, 250, 272, 278, 284, 290, 379d and others); check the zone column before you plan.
Some seasons run in two or more segments; each segment is its own row.
Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules, page 42; WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules, page 43; WDFW 2026 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Rules, page 44 (page). Read today.